Tagged: charlie collins

The Affordable Care Act has been a mixture of good and bad news for Arkansas, but the state’s unique approach to expanding Medicaid has resulted in a different experience from that making national headlines.

A report to lawmakers on Arkansas' hybrid Medicaid expansion won't resolve the muddied future of the program, but it could at least provide clarity on the options the Legislature faces, and how difficult finding consensus will be.

Arkansas already has a former first lady and ex-governor in the White House race, but a state legislator who thinks there's room for another homegrown candidate is urging Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton to run.

A bill to force public colleges and universities in Arkansas to allow staff and faculty to bring guns onto campus that was previously defeated found new life Thursday through the support of three Democrats.

The sponsor of an Arkansas law banning most abortions 20 weeks into a pregnancy is seeking the Republican Party's nomination for lieutenant governor next year. Republican Rep. Andy Mayberry of Hensley announced he's running for lieutenant governor.

The approval of the "private option" that Arkansas is pursuing to expand health insurance in the state doesn't end the debate over an idea that supporters have touted as an innovative way to reform Medicaid and opponents have blasted as no different from "Obamacare." It's merely a preview of the fights yet to come.

As Arkansas lawmakers approach what could be the final weeks of this year's session, it's becoming clearer that proposals to expand health insurance to low-income workers and to cut $100 million in taxes are colliding.

Taking over the state House for the first time in 138 years was the easy part for Arkansas Republicans. The bigger challenge may be healing the rifts within their ranks, some of which were revealed with the election of Davy Carter as incoming House speaker.